The Silent Minority

turnaround," he said.

  After the calls were confirmed, and while waiting for the reporters to arrive Michael asked the chairman as a last move of the day if he could appear at the late night news show in a major television network and above all to deny emphatically that he would resign.

  "Your word will hold much more strength if whatever we do concerns a current chairman rather than an ex-chairman."

  "I will do that," he said, "and then I'll go home and sink into my bathtub to be drenched with a glass of Champagne in my hand—"

  "Hang on, Mister Chairman; there is one last thing I want you to consider before you do that. This is an optional move for you, as you have done so much already."

  "What is it this time?"

  "What I will ask you to do will tremendously facilitate things in Holland but not only that, it will be the guarantee of success in case something goes wrong."

  "What shall I do then?"

  "I want you to come with me tomorrow to Holland."

  "By golly you give me a full hand. You think about everything don't you?"

  Michael shrugged. "Ideas just come as we go along."

  "Tomorrow?"

  "As soon as possible. Even today!"

  "Why this urgency?"

  "There is a good chance for the court to accept our appeal, as it will be convening for another case early next week."

  "Well I don't like half-baked breads."

  "Me neither! I like your analogy, Mister Chairman."

  "Well let's do it then."

  "While you take care of things with the reporters I will organize the television station to send a limousine to pick you up, and also for air tickets. By the way, I use economy class for myself as the money came from the Free the Teacher fund, but for you I will get a business class ticket. Will that be okay with you?"

  "You get two economy tickets. I like company when I travel and besides it is time for me to land in reality. I have had enough of this world of fantasy."

  Michael left the chairman to deal with the reporters and then rang the television station where he was working before.

  The managing director was pleased to hear from him asking, "Are you still on Patmos?"

  "No, I am here."

  "Are you ringing about your job? If so we will welcome you back."

  "No, but thank you anyway. The reason I am ringing you is about WCFET. They have amended their previous recommendation about the Teacher."

  "Good grief, what is going on there? Are they gone bonkers? It's a headline story!"

  "Then send a limousine to pick the chairman up for the late night headlines."

  "How do you know all this? Are you working for them now?"

  "No, I am the chairman's adviser"

  "Until tomorrow," he whispered to himself.

  "Will you consider being my adviser?" the managing director said, amused.

  "I will think about that. Thanks for the offer."

  Michael went to the travel agent who organized his trip to Patmos and asked him for two tickets to Amsterdam as soon as possible. The travel agent finally he came up with two seats available at half past six tomorrow morning. "But it's via London," he said, "with only half an hour changeover time. You will have to be quick, and hope the flight will be on schedule."

  "I will take the chance," Michael said.

  After that he made a telephone call to one of the newspapers, asking when the early editions of the newspapers would arrive at the airport.

  "Around six o'clock they should be there," said his informant.

  That will have to be another chance we have to take, thought Michael.

  Finally he got the tickets and went back to see the chairman. He had just finished with the reporters who were pressing hard, asking him if he intended to resign. He was adamant that he was not leaving his position.

  "Well, Chairman," Michael, said, "you know the scene you were describing to me about the bath tub with champagne?"

  "Yes... what?"

  "It will have to wait, because tomorrow morning at five we'll have to be at the airport. We're leaving at half past six."

  "Shit!" the chairman said. "I'll have to go direct from the television station to the airport?"

  "It is only one night, Chairman. We're nearly there. Here is your ticket. Give me the recommendation in case you cannot make it and I will see you tomorrow morning at five at the airport."

  I must make two more calls, Michael thought, and then I am done for today.

  First he rang the ex-chairman in The Hague and told him that he would be there tomorrow and to start any proceedings necessary for the appeal. He did not mention anything about bringing the chairman because he was not sure about it.

  Then he decided to ring Aphrodite. She must have calmed down by now, he thought.

  "How dare you?" she said, and before she could say anything more Michael cut through her sentence saying, "I want to tell you two things if you are calm enough to listen."

  "What is that?"

  "I want to make a deal with you."

  "No more deals. What is the second?"

  "I am leaving for Holland tomorrow morning."

  "Can I ask you why?"

  "It has to do with those perfectly timed phone calls that you nearly ran me over for; you will hear everything tomorrow in the news."

  "How long are you going for?"

  "I don't know. I hope it won't be for long."

  "What can I say? Ring me when you return. Bye."

  "Bye."

  Michael was at the airport at five o'clock. He could not take a chance to be late; I'd rather lose some sleep than be late, he thought.

  He gave a fifty fifty chance for the current chairman to appear but he thought he had done enough. He actually felt obliged to him. His main concern now was whether the newspaper delivery would be on schedule.

  The time passed until it was nearly six o'clock, but neither the chairman nor the newspapers showed up.

  At six o'clock one of the newspaper packages was dropped off but at that moment boarding time was announced through the speakers. Michael waited a little longer in case the chairman showed up or another newspaper drop arrived, but then they announced the final call for boarding.

  Michael was still there waiting like a dog waiting his master in case something showed up when the public address system paged his name in the final call.

  At the same time in came another bunch of papers, the man was taking his time arranging them in his kiosk.

  Finally Michael spotted the one he was waiting for. He grabbed it and ran.

  "Hey!" the guy screamed.

  Michael realized he had not paid. As he ran, he took some coins from his pocket and threw them behind.

  He just managed to squeeze through the gate as it closed.

  Michael reached Amsterdam with no problems. While he waited for the bus to take him to The Hague; he rang the ex-chairman and told him to wait for him in the bus depot if it was at all possible.

  They met an hour later and went off with a taxi to Scheveningen.

  Inside the taxi Michael handed the ex-chairman the new recommendation and the two newspaper clippings reporting the total amendment of the previous recommendation.

  The ex-chairman could not believe his eyes when he saw that. Before he said a word, Michael saw something and told the taxi driver to stop.

  "Are we going to the ICC registrar in Scheveningen?" he asked.

  The ex-chairman was so ecstatic that he could only nod yes.

  "You go, Mister Clarke, and start the proceedings. I will meet you there."

  He got out of the car and ran towards the Internet café he had just seen.

  When they reached Scheveningen the ex-chairman ran to the registrar office. The registrar officer was attending someone else and it felt as if the clerk was taking his time. When he finished finally he asked the ex-chairman, "What can I do for you?"

  The ex-chairman told the clerk he wanted to fill an application form for an appeal to be heard after
the hearing that was due to take place next week.

  The clerk looked at his watch and said, "You are late for that sir, but let me see. Have you got all the documents you need for it?"

  The ex-chairman handed him the recommendation and the two newspaper clippings.

  "Now let me see... is this the original recommendation or a copy?"

  "The original."

  "That is good... and the publication items; that is...oh sir, I need three newspaper clippings and there are only two."

  "I am sorry. I don't have another one."

  "I am sorry too; sir, but I cannot accept it."

  "We cannot leave a man in detention just for the sake of one small lousy newspaper clipping."

  "I am sorry sir. Rules are rules."

  "How about if I produce it later on?"

  "I am sorry sir. I cannot accept the rest of the documents. I will lose my job."

  "That is ridiculous. Surely there must be a way out of this!"

  "Sorry sir. It is a prerequisite to have three newspaper clippings. I need one more newspap—"

  "This is ridiculous. Surely there—"

  "Sorry sir. It is absolutely mandatory that three newspaper clippings accompany—"

  "Here! Here's the third one!" said Michael as he flew through the office doors.

  "Well folks, you are in business. Luck is on your side today. You have just made it. I wish you good luck with your appeal."

  The ex-chairman was lost for words

  "How did you manage that? I still cannot believe it!" he said, looking like a stunned mullet.

  "I nearly brought the chairman with me to verify everything but I think he slept in. Do you think we have a chance with the appeal?"

  "Absolutely. They don't have any grounds to hold the Teacher any more. The whole structure will collapse. They based their indictment only on the recommendation of the WCFET and now that doesn't exist anymore it is a matter of formalities. Boy oh boy I can still not believe it," the ex-chairman said, shaking his